Will Alabama look to mix things up after landing dual-threat QB option?

Posted by Kevin McGuire on June 18, 2014, 3:38 PM EST

It seems as though Alabama never needs to rebuild. When you can recruit the way Nick Saban does, rebuilding is never going to be acceptable. The rich got richer on Wednesday when quarterback Blake Barnett gave his solid verbal to the Crimson Tide, already owners of the top-ranked recruiting class in 2015.

Alabama, for whatever reason, never seems to be able to get a stud quarterback recruit, but perhaps this could end up being a different story down the line. Though nobody will challenge the results seen with guys like Greg McElroy or AJ McCarron (SEC and BCS championships tend to speak volumes) but the hopes will be high for Barnett, a four-star quarterback according to Rivals.com. Barnett also brings a little more versatility to the Alabama offense as a dual-threat quarterback. Saban looking to utilize a dual-threat quarterback? Now that could be something to witness.

Or will it? According to AL.com, Barnett has already been working with a quarterback coach to prepare him to fit into Alabama’s pro-style offense. That would seem to fit the Saban model, but a coach as smart as Saban knows the best chance to win is to utilize the abilities of his players to their fullest. It would make sense Barnett is preparing to lead a traditional, pro-style offense, but it would be silly not to let him use his legs to his advantage when needed in a division that has shown the benefits of a mobile option under center in recent years.

Barnett was previously thought to be heading to Notre Dame, but he backed away from the Irish recently. That put Alabama in the driver’s seat with a challenge from Oregon. He is expected to enroll early at Alabama, joining the program in January after graduating this December.

Saban is the best. Part of the “Process” is the ability to adapt when your opponents think that they have you all figured out. Watch Saban add in the option/veer attack to utilize the full potential of this new quarterback recruit.

shaunodame says:Jun 18, 2014 4:49 PM

Thought for sure he was going to Oregon after decommittinh from ND after his trip to Duck Country.

An article about bama MAYBE changing offense for a qb they won’t have for another year? LOL, no one outside of alabama gives a shitt.

dcroz says:Jun 18, 2014 7:47 PM

And yet, you gave enough of one to read it and then comment on it. Imagine that.

dcroz says:Jun 18, 2014 7:52 PM

Saban seems to be recognizing that the days of playing ball-control offense and relying on your defense to give up less than 13 PPG to win is going away. Defense will always be important, of course, but we appear to be entering a time where a top-flight defense is defined as one that gives up somewhere in the low-20s on average, and where the offense must consistently put up 35 points or more to have a chance to win each week. If he allows this kid (and Kiffin) to utilize his full abilities instead of trying to make him a pure pocket passer, then the Tide may finally get the explosive offense it keeps threatening to have but never achieves.

Probably reads at an seventh or eighth grade level. Options limited to $ECheat teams. Since Alabumpkin’ and LSU and Mi$$i$$ippi schools are at the bottom of the edjamacation totem pole; the shoe fits perfectly.

Bama won’t be waiting on this kid. the #1 qb out of spring practice was Blake Sims – considered a dual-threat qb out of high school. The arrival of Jacob Coker, following his graduation from FSU adds a second dual-threat guy to the equation.
Lane Kiffin has always run a pro style offense, as has Nick Saban, however Saban has expressed that while the base offense will remain pro-set, there are a lot of things that a mobile quarterback allows you to do that maybe someone less mobile would prohibit.

2014, we’ll be introduced to a new offense from the minds of Kiffin & Saban. Question is, will it be successful.

Saban has made his first disastrous mistake. Hiring Lane Kiffen is just a bomb waiting to explode. He’ll stab him in the back first chance he gets. Alabama will be on probation within three years having him on the staff. The dude has been a cancer every place he has been.